'A good news deal for kids': $10 a day childcare coming to Manitoba
Childcare for Manitoba families will soon cost $10 a day.
Manitoba announced a bilateral childcare funding agreement with the federal government Monday morning that would help lower the cost of child care in the province.
“This is a good news deal for kids and it’s good news for early learning childcare educators and providers,” Manitoba Minister of Families Rochelle Squires said. “And it will be a critical piece in our economic recovery from the pandemic, in particular helping support more women than ever get back to work.”
Officials, including Federal Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development Ahmed Hussen, joined Squires for the announcement at the Portage Avenue YMCA-YWCA.
“Our vision for early learning and childcare is big and ambitious, but if we tell our own kids to dream big, we need to lead by example,” Minister Hussen said. “Today’s historic agreement with Manitoba is another important step on the path to ensuring all families have access to high-quality, affordable, and inclusive childcare.”
By the end of 2022, Manitoba families will see a 50 per cent reduction in average parent fees for children up to six years old. In 2023, the agreement will support an average of $10 a day for regulated childcare spaces in Manitoba.
“I am pleased we were able to negotiate an agreement with the federal government that recognizes the realities of working families here in Manitoba,” Minister Squires said.
The agreement will also create 23,000 new full-time regulated care spaces by 2026 in not-for-profit public childcare operations, as well as in family-based childcare.
Squires said the provincial government is also committed to raising wages for childcare providers.
“When I’ve travelled around the province and talked to early learning and childcare providers, the biggest challenge that they tell me they’re facing is recruitment and retention.”
Squires said the province will set a “floor for the salary” of about $25 an hour, which will come into effect in the next fiscal year.
The federal government is committing more than $1.2 billion over the next five years, which will also fund critical services for families and children, and create more jobs in early childhood education. It will also support an inclusive system for children with disabilities and those needing additional support.
Hussen said aside from creating additional high-quality childcare spaces, the federal government wants to ensure spaces are, “culturally appropriate and relevant to children of all backgrounds.”
In its last budget, the Trudeau government committed to a $30 billion, coast-to-coast, $10-a-day childcare program.
The Manitoba Child Care Association said Monday's announcement demonstrates a willingness to make childcare a priority in the province.
Jodie Kehl, the executive director of Manitoba Child Care Association, said the announcement acknowledges key foundational needs including affordability and accessibility.
"What we've heard today is like a proverbial hat-trick. It's good for children, it's good for families, it's good for our economy," Kehl said. "Today is a great in Manitoba for childcare."
The association said it's delighted to see the plan also prioritizes recruiting and retaining knowledgable early childhood educators.
The federal Conservatives criticized the announcement, saying the Liberals have consistently broken childcare promises.
In a statement to CTV News, Raquel Dancho, Conservative Shadow Minister for Future Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, said, in part:
“Trudeau waited six years into his mandate to make these announcements on child care and it’s no surprise that this comes before a possible election.”
Last week, the federal government signed a similar agreement with Quebec, providing $6 billion over five years.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.